Tamron has added Pentax and Sony to the stable of compatible DSLRs for its 70-200mm f/2.8 lens. The lens will be available later this month in Japan initially. The lens carries a street price of about $700 for the existing Canon and Nikon mounts.
Press Release
As previously announced, Tamron Co., Ltd (Mr. Morio Ono, President) has developed SP AF70-200mm F/2.8 Di LD [IF] MACRO (Model A001), a lightweight and fast F/2.8 tele-zoom lens designed for full-size SLR cameras. Tamron is pleased to announce the availability of the zoom lens in mounts for Pentax and Sony SLR cameras.
The SP AF70-200mm F/2.8 Di LD [IF] MACRO (Model A001) was developed under the same concept as the SP AF28-75mm F/2.8 XR Di (Model A09)-a lens highly evaluated by many users around the world as a compact and fast zoom lens boasting a high cost/performance ratio. The SP AF70-200mm is a fast F/2.8 zoom lens that is compatible with full-size DSLRs and 35mm Film SLR cameras.
While preventing the lens from becoming bulky, Tamron successfully realized the minimum focus distance of 0.95m over the entire zoom range for a maximum magnification ratio of 1:3.1 at 200mm-best in its class on both counts. Combined with the advantage of an internal focusing system, this lens enables the user to enjoy stress-free close-up photography.
The SP AF70-200mm F/2.8 zoom lens covers a focal length range from 70mm medium telephoto to 200mm real telephoto when mounted on a full frame DSLR or 35mm film SLR camera while covering a 35mm-equivalent focal length range from 109mm to 310mm ultra telephoto* (diagonal angle of view of 7‹59′) when used with a digital SLR camera equipped with an APS-C sized image sensor.
* 35mm format equivalent (Tamron’s conversion value is 1.55x)
MAIN FEATURES
1. Minimum focus distance of 0.95m ( in.) over the entire zoom range for 1:3.1 maximum magnification ratio
Tamron has realized the minimum focus distance of 0.95m ( in.) over the entire zoom range for the first time in the class of F/2.8 fast tele-zoom lenses compatible with@full-frame cameras. The maximum magnification ratio at the 200mm tele end is 1:3.1, also an unprecedented feature in this class. As a result of the thorough pursuit of ideal power distribution within the whole optical system, the lens accepts popular-size 77mm filters.
2. Innovative optical design strikes a balance between soft out-of-focus effects and sharpness
In order to strike a balance between the capability to derive soft out-of-focus effects and sharpness as is Tamron’s tradition, the lens makes lavish use of three LD (low dispersion) glass elements to minimize on-axis and lateral chromatic aberrations that are major image degradation factors. Thanks to this innovative optical design, the lens realizes high definition and high contrast performance over the entire image plane from center to the periphery as well as optimum flatness of field, providing outstanding optical performance in all photographic situations and over the entire zoom range.
3. Lightweight tele-zoom boasts F/2.8 constant maximum aperture
Tamron has realized the light weight of 1,150g ( 40.6oz.) for this F/2.8 fast tele zoom lens by using engineering plastic materials with superior dimensional stability and strength-more than sufficient for industrial applications-for its barrel parts.
4. Thorough countermeasures against ghosting and flare, including internal surface coatings
Tamron employed special multi-layer coatings designed to reduce reflections on lens surfaces as well as internal surface coatings (coatings on cemented surfaces of lens elements) in order to minimize reflections from the imager itself within the mirror box, a problem inherent to digital SLR cameras.
5. Detachable tripod grip ring
A lightweight, detachable and durable tripod grip ring made of aluminum is supplied as a standard accessory.
6. Flower-shaped lens hood as a standard accessory
The lens is supplied with a flower-shaped lens hood as a standard accessory that is designed to efficiently cut harmful light entering from angles other than intended angles at four corners of the frame in order to ensure clear depictive performance.